Interrupter for ignition-dynamos.



H. H. WIXON.

INTEERUPTER FOR IGNITION DYNAMOS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1910.

1,078,233. Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

WIInesses Inv'enlur COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (IO-.WASNINO'I'ON. 0. I:v

H. H. WIXON. INTERRUPTER FOR IGNITION DYNAMOS. IAPPLIGATION FILED SEPT 6, 1910. 1 07 233 Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 R KW LLL

H. H. WIXON.

INTEBRUPTBR FOB IGNITION DYNAMOS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6,1910.

Patented NOV. 11, 1913.

a snnnrksannr a.

Inven or Howard H.Wixun A urna s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD H. WIXON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STROMBERG MOTOR DEVICES COMPANY, DIE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

INTERRUPTER FOR IGNITION-DYNAl/IOS.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

Original application filed March 4, 1910, Serial No. 547,190. Divided and this application filed September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD H. WIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Interrupters for Ignition-Dynamos, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifica tion.

My invention relates to ignition dynamos such as are employed in connection with gas engines for automobiles, and. is more particularly directed to interrupter mechanism therefor.

This case is divisional from my copending application, Serial No. 547,190, filed March 4, 1910, wherein a magnetoignition device is shown and described.

In this type of machine, and in the system employed in connectiontherewith, inductively related high and low tension circuits are employed and, in operation, -it necessary that the primary circuitbe interrupted intermittentlyso that the high tension current will jump the gap the sec ondary circuit, physically disposed in. the engine cylinder. v f

The novel features of my invention lie in the construction of the interrupter whereby the circuit controlled thereby is interrupted first by one pair of contacts and then by another, in order to distribute the injurious effect of the sparking among the several contacts, the life of the interrupter contacts being thereby greatly prolonged.

The novel features of my invention reside further in the arrangement of the interrupter contacts in the ignition system, this improved arrangement being peculiarly related to the construction above pointed out,

My invention is embodied in, the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which I Figure 1 is an end elevational view of the magneto; Fig. 2 ,s a longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction, indicated in the drawings; Fig. 3 is an isolated cross-sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 3, 30f Fig. l and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the interrupter cas- Serial No. 580,717.

ing in position on the magneto; Fig. 4 is an interior elevational view of the interrupter; and Fig. 5 is a diagram of the circuit connections.

Like reference characters are applied to the same parts throughout the various figures.

The main framework of the machine comprises the non-magnetic base portion 1, a pair of magnetic side portions 2, a nonmagnetic top portion 3, and su porting end plates 4 and 5, all held toget er in some suitable manner, for instance by means of the screws 6, 6. The permanent magnets 7, 7 are in good magnetic contact with the side pieces 2 and, extending upwardly, embrace some of the working parts of the machine, as is usual in the art.

In the particular machine herein shown, the space between the magnetic side pieces i occupied by a stationary induction winding 8 comprising the inner or primary coil 9 and the outer or secondary coil 10. Upon the outside of the winding are located the terminals which are intended to engage certain contact members, as will be described subsequently, mounted at certain points on the machine; I ',,Passing axially through the winding is the armature shaft 11 rotatably supported in bearings 12 and 13. The bearing 12 is carried in .the supplemental end plate 1 1, which is secured to the end plate 1 and to the framework of the machine, while the bearing 13 is mounted in the sup ort 15 held in the other end plate 5. Anti riction rollers 16 work in the bearings 12 and 13, as is clearly shown in the drawings. A pair of segmental polar extensions 17 and 18 are secured to the armature shaft at opposite ends of the winding, first by means of the screw threads on the armature shaft and second by means of the set screws 19, 19. The polar extensions as well as the armature shaftat least that portion of the armature shaft which is included between the polar extensions-ere of magnetic material, and it will be seen therefore that the armature shaft constitutes a rotatable magnetic core for the stationary induction winding. The angular position of the polarextensions 17 and 18 on the armature shaft is such that they lie substantially diametrically opposite, as indicated in Fig. 2, and in order to proand 32. As soon as the smaller roller 24 separates the contact 30 from the contact 32 (which will, of course, take place while the contacts 31 and 33 are held separated by the roller 23), the primary circuit will again be interrupted and whatever sparln'ng will take place at this moment of interruption will be across the contacts 30 and 33. By thus causing interruption of the primary circuit, first through one pair of contacts and then through the other, the life of the interrupter is practically double that of those interrupters in which but a single pair of contacts is employed. And this advantage is secured by so arranging the two pairs of contacts and the interrupter yoke that the cyclical actuation of the contacts takes place in succession, the circuit being interrupted alternately by one pair of contacts and then the other pair.

In order that the interrupter casing may be readily attached to the magneto and as readily removed therefrom, a bearing plate 40 is rotatably mounted in the end plate 5, as shown in Fig. 2.. Through the opening 41 in this bearing plate passes the extension 21 of the armature shaft. This rotatable bearing plate carries two oppositely disposed studs 42 and 43 screwed thereinto. These studs are provided with head portions 44 and 45, respectively, and with insulating sleeves 46 and 47, respectively. The cylindrical support 29 is provided with two oppositely arranged enlargements or bosses 48 provided with openings 49. The cover piece 38 carries across bar 50. A pair of openings 51 extend through the cover piece and the bar '50 in alinement with the openings 49, as best shown in Fig. 3. Into the openings 51 extend the projections or buttons 52, which are pressed outwardly by suitable springs 53. When it is desired to insert the interrupter casing in place in the magneto, it is necessary only to bring the openings of the casing into alinement with the studs 42 and 43 and to press the casing inwardly until the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, whenzthe buttons 52 will rest in the grooves of the head portions 44 and 45 of the studs 42 and 43. This pro duces a separable locking engagement between the rotatable base plate 40 and the interrupter casing.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the end plate 5 is provided with a circular shoulder 54, which forms a housing for the interrupter casing. An insulating disk 55, preferably secured to the base plate 40, insulates the latter from the cylindrical support 29 of the interrupter casing. From this it will be seen that the stationary contacts 32 and 33 are grounded to the magneto, while the movable contacts 30 and 31 are insulated therefrom. The binding post 56 is carried by the end plate 5 and insulated therefrom by an insulating bushing 57, as shown in Fig. 3. This binding post makes electrical contact with the cylindrical support 29, and therefore with the movable contacts 30 and 31 carried by said support. This is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 5, which also shows the stationary contacts 32 and 33 grounded to the machine at G. The detail description of this figure will be taken up later on in due course. The object of having the interrupter radially adjustable is to vary the moment of sparking with respectto the position of the engine piston.; Since the armature shaft is driven by the engine, and since the interrupter yoke 22 is driven by the armature, it will be apparent that by rotating the interrupter casing, the moment at which the circuit will be interrupted by one of the pairs of contacts may be varied with respect to the position of the engine piston, or (which amounts to the same thing) with respect to the position of the armature. In order to get the best sparking it is customary to so time the moment of circuit interruption that it will occur substantially at the moment of generation of maximum electromotive force, which (as is well known) takes place when the armature is about to interrupt the magnetic short circuit through the induction winding, or at least reduce it to a minimum. In my magneto this will take place when the armature is substantially in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, or in a position 180.. degrees therefrom. In order to facilitate the adjustment of the interrupter casing I have provided an arm 58, arranged at right angles to the bar 50 and removably attached to the interrupter casing in any suitable manner. In the presentinstance the cover plate 38 of the interrupter casing carries a pair of studs 59, which enter openings 60 in the arm 58, the spring-pressed buttons 61 providing a separable locking engagement between the two parts. The arm 58 has an extension 62 provided with an opening 63 to afford connection with the time lever of the automobile equipment, or with some other suitable part which the driver of the machine may conveniently operate to adjust the time of ignition.

In order that the device of my invention may be adapted to use with multi-cylinder engines, it is necessary that a distributer be employed. For the sake ofillustration, it-has been assumed that the precise embodiment of the magneto illustrated in the accompanying drawings is for a four-cylinder engine and therefore the distributor is shown as provided with four contacts in Fig. 5. The distributer illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings comprises the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 580,718, filed of even date here with, and it will therefore be unnecessary in. the: present connection: to :describe its construction-in detail: Suffice it to. say. that:- a plurality. of contacts, aree 'stationarily: mounted: in the insulating casing- 64;. se-T cured to the :endriplate 5. Icy-means :of: screws sulating block: 73;: carries the .contact. mem

65,? 65. The. contacts. are individuallyconnected with the respectivespark plugs by means of the leads. 66, '66.

upon the mainkshaftpll'. The auxiliary;

beingscoveredz byeaimica 'p1ate.=-75.=, The; in?

her; 76 whichiisadapted to: contact) success sively. with. theirotaryx contacts all; as shown. inlfdetail and descrihediinamy:copendingrap;=- plication, Serial: N0.=.5.80,718-... "Elie insulateingblock 73.,also;carries-..a spark electrode.

77 which .is spaced: from. aimetallicxpoint. 78': of. the auxiliary. shaft to lfonm-iaasparkz gap which. is described in any. copendingiapplicaz tion just referred to .as .a combined :safety. andtesting' spark gap.. The al-uxiliary shalft- 67fiis. provided with ;a centralrinsulatingl portion 79 and the-partsjustineterred to i more:

or. less broadly: are set interconnected and:

insulated and so. associated. with the. wind-z ings 9 and 10 that; the: circuit; arrangement of Eig.-.5. may. be maintained, Amond'ensen- 80. is conveniently. supported?v within. the.

magnetoon. top ofithe-memben-in.

Referring toFig; 5,: it willzbeseemthat the primary. winding 9 is connected between ground and the movable contacts of theinterrupter, while the stationary:- contactspof' the interrupter are connected back torgroundn It will also .be noted that: the condenser-.180 is connected in shunt; of*the interrupter and that the secondary winding l0risyconnected bet-ween ground and the movablemember of the distributer, while the stationarycon-. tacts of the distributer are through the spark. plugs back to ground:

The spark electrode 7710f the safety and test gap arrangement is shown in close proximity to the metallic plate 78, connected with the movable member 76- ofzthe distributer, and is furthershownas electrically connected with ground. Here. again it may. well be pointed out 'thatthe pairs-0f interrupter contacts are connected in parallel, the condenser being also parallel therewith. to prevent as much as possible the sparkingat the electrodes whichinterruptthe primary circuit and also to-increase the. voltage in the secondary circuit by accelerating the flux variationsthrough the induction winding. 'If'the sparking is too earlyointoo An. auxiliary;- shaft.6.7 ismounted' in the bearings-'68 and: 69, set-in the endplatesenand 5, respectively-,-. anti-friction balls? 70,- being-provided; andz' carries the gear=7l incased betweenthe endi 5 plate 4 and'the supplementary. endeplate14;. This; gear meshes with pinion 72 secured.

connected amazes;

'gla-te, the; intenrnpter'may; neadily be adj ust: @ed-. in. themanner: previously described.

It. is:evidentthat: theinterrupter of my. linventioir. mayube employed; in connection- ;withmther physical-arrangements than that.

ilierein. precisely. shown; and with other ciricuitarrangementsthan. that shown in. Big. 55,; and. Ti therefore wish the appended claims gto; be; viewediin this broadrway.

i 1 claim. asnew and desire to secure Letters Patent: t

1. Aniinterrupters fora-magneto generators comprising; in-combination, alsupport, two. ;pairs .of normally. closedicontacts carried by. isaid: support, ones-contact of. each pair b'eiing. fixed; and'the other movable, and a rotat-able member having. oppositely.- disposed iengaging surfaces for: actuating r said: movahle=contaets respectively to openthem .one a after the other in quick; succession.

I 21.18111. interrupterifor: magneto generators comprisingaini combinatiom a; casing, stwo fpa-ir siofynormally,1olosedcontaets.symmetri+ 'cally: mountedein saiidrcasing; one contact of l eaelitpair being gfixed andithes otlher movable,

and fai rotatable: arm; associated with said contacts, said .aainrbeingrpivoted' intermediate-between itsaend srand :provided with en.-

gaging snrfacesudisposede at different: distances from the l a-xisofi rotation. for actuat' ing= saidi movable contacts. one a after the. 'other/iniquicksucoessiom 3.; An interrupter. fen ma gnetdgenerators. comprising, in combination; a casing, two. pairs: of normally closed'icontacts symmetrioally. mounted-tin saidicasing, onecontact-cot. eaclrpainbeingvfixed amd the-other movable,- anda. rotatable arm :a s'sooiated with said contacts; said arm beingpivoted intermediate between ltSJGlldSiZtil'di provided with .rollers of different size-for actuating said movable. cont-acts. oneafter the other in quick.- succession;

4;. In an ignition system, a circuit provided with two:pairs:of'interrupter contacts connected in parallel, and means for-actuating saidccontacts simultaneously but to open in quick succession to cyclically interrupt the circuit, first by one pair of contacts and thennbythe other..

5. In an ignition system, a circuit provided! with a plurality of interrupter switches connected in parallel, and means for actuating said switches at different intcrvalsto cause cyclical interruptions ofthe circuitby-said switches in succession and closure in the reverse order.

6; An interrupter'for-magneto generators comprisingyin combination, movable contacts, stationary contacts, and means for operating the. movable contacts atthe same time but separating the different pairs of contacts at difierent times.

7; An .interrupter' for magneto generators comprising, in: combination, stationary contacts, movable contacts, and means for operating the movable contacts at the same time but regularly separating the diiierent pairs t contacts at different times.

8. In a magneto generator, a supporting member, studs extending therefrom, an interrupter casing mounted upon said studs, and resilient means for engaging said studs beyond the casing to hold said interrupter using in place.

9. In a magneto generator, a cylindrical supporting shell, an auxiliary supporting member disposed inside but insulated from said shell, contacts carried by said auxiliary supporting member, a cover mounted upon said shell and rotatable relative thereto, the auxiliary supporting member beingrotatable therewith but insulated therefrom and contacts carried by said cover for association with said first-named contacts.

10. In a. magneto generator, a cylindrical supporting shell, an auxiliary supporting member disposed inside but insulated from said shell, contacts carried by said auxiliary supporting member, a cover mounted upon said shell and rotatable relative thereto, the auxiliary supporting member being rotatable therewith but insulated therefrom, con tacts carried by said cover for association with said first-named contacts, and an ad justing arm positively connected with said cover and resiliently held in place.

11. In a magneto generator, in combination, a supporting member, a rotatable plate mounted in said supporting member, studs carried by said plate, a cover carried by said studs, an auxiliary supporting member clamped between but insulated from said plate and cover, contacts carried by said last-named supporting member, contacts carried by said cover, and means for periodically actuating said contacts.

12. In a magneto generator, in combination, a supporting member, a rotatable plate mounted in said supporting member, studs carried by said plate, a cover carried by said studs, an auxiliary supporting member clamped between but insulated from said plate and cover, contacts carried by said last-named supporting member, contacts carried by said cover, means for periodically actuating said contacts, and a binding post mounted in but insulated from said first-named supporting member and having connection with said second named supporting member.

13. In an interrupter for magnet-o ignition devices, a pair of movable contacts, a pair of stationary contacts respectively associated therewith, a rotatable yoke centrally pivoted relative to said contacts, and rollers pivoted on said yoke equidistant from the center for periodic engagement with said movable contacts, one of said rollers being larger than the other.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day of September, A. D.

HOWARD H. WIXON. Witnesses:

ARTHUR H. Bon'r'rol-ma, LEONARD E. Boson. 

